Eli's sons

Samuels call, are we hearing Gods voice?  I Samuel 2:12-36, 3:1-21       

Presuppositionaly I believe:

Idolatry is not something we go out with an intention of doing; it is very subtle, it’s what we will naturally do if we don’t hold ourselves in check. We know that there is idolatry in us; when we are disobeying Gods word concerning child discipleship.

                  “The heart of man is a virtual Idol factory” John Calvin

1)    The story of Eli is for us at HBC. If we like Eli make an Idol of our children they will harden their heart and God will destroy them! – Entitlement –selfishness/self-willed – ungrateful –taking for granted.

a)     Make an idol of children? How do we know? Samuel 2:29,3:13

i)       Not properly disciplining

(1) Despise not the chastening of the lord -Hebrews 12:5

(2) A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

Proverbs 13:1

b)    Elevating to high stations without the character to stand-- They are Priests of the living God – Shilo is where the Ark of the Covenant is.

i)       Luke 16:10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

ii)     He who is faithful in small things will be faithful in big things.

(1) A small thing could be an assigned chore while a big thing could be running the whole household.

(2) A small thing could be handling a knife properly, while a big thing is handling a gun properly

c)     They can become arrogant and full of selfish lust –

Hophni and Phinehas did whatever suited their flesh. –sons of Belial.

Their actions display who they serve. Romans 6

i)       2Timothy 3:2-4  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

(1) The apostle is grabbing a lot of adjectives, to help us get a feel for those who fight against God.

(2) But notice “Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”

(3) We are a nation of “lovers of pleasure”! The thing about this “lovers of pleasure” is that it feeds on immaturity.

(a)  What’s better a high self-esteem or a low one? Neither, in either case the center (reference point) is you. It is idolatry and we move in relation to our idols. We become predictable and controllable by evil.

(b) We get

(i)    Suicide, Drug use, Immorality of all kinds, Video game addictions, Being controlling or manipulating of others (emotional payoff), Pretty much any addiction can be tied to being lovers of pleasure.

(ii)  Unmotivated to serve/ half committed

(iii)Thoughtless

(iv)                        Laziness—Education—Chores

1.     Not taking ownership of their life

(v)  Un-Forgiveness

(vi)                        Unrepentant

(vii)                      Discouraged or angry

(viii)                    Independent spirit

(c)  What do we want to see – cheerfulness- service- self-sacrifice-enthusiasm- energetic- diligent- punctual – accountable. To participate in the ways of life, and put away the paths of death. They will seek the wisdom of their parents.

(i)    When we don’t see any of this stuff going on, we are seeing rebellion.

These are the natural result of a mature right relationship with God and parents.

           

d)    Whose job is it to see that children grow up and are mature?

i)       Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Any questions?

(1) Discipline= 3809 paideía (from 3811 /paideúō, see there) – properly, instruction that trains someone to reach full development (maturity).

(a)  Self-control- wisdom –responsibility

(2) Instruction= 3559 /nouthesía ("warning through teaching") improves a person's reasoning so they can reach God's solution – i.e. by going through His thought-process.

ii)     Salvation is of the Lord but maturity is our part. It’s our job men are you on it?

(a)  Deuteronomy 29:29“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.

(2) It’s about observable maturity. Do your children need constant supervision?

(i)    1peter 5:8 be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

(3) It’s about the mind. Is your child’s thinking biblical?  (Put on the mind of Christ) expressed through attitudes. PRIDE ISSUE

(i)    Philippians2:5 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, a 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.

iii)   Bad actions come from bad thoughts (James 1:14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire). A correct “mind will and emotion” will cause us to shun pride and embrace humility.

2)    We lose God’s guidance/protection turning to sin

a)     Deuteronomy 9:17 (Moses)So I took hold of the two tablets and threw them out of my two hands and broke them before your eyes.

b)    No judges/prophets (did evil in the sight of the Lord.) 7 times in the book of Judges ->Bondage

c)     Losing the law -2 Kings 22:8-10 (King Josiah)

i)       Sin in the temple

ii)     Prostitution m/f

iii)   Child sacrifice

iv)   Ashera poles

v)     There are terrible things going on in the temple of the living God and their ignorance has made them proud and wise. You are either obeying God or doing what’s right in your own eyes.

d)    In America this looks like

i)       Turning to places like Harvard or Yale for wisdom and not to God.

ii)     Children not listening to parents about marriage

iii)   Immaturity in anyone over 13

iv)   Being led by a worldly spirit of music rather than the spirit of God

3)    Drought of the word – Samuel 3:1 

a)     God raises up prophets

i)       Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen  - God raises up prophets

b)     God withholds prophets

i)       Psalms 74:9 we do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long

ii)     Amos 8:12 'They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, but shall not find it'

iii)   Lamentations 2;9 Her gates have sunk into the ground; he has ruined and broken her bars; her king and princes are among the nations; the law is know more , and her prophets find no vision from the Lord.

iv)   Ezekiel 7:26 the king mourns, the prince is wrapped in despair, and the hand of the people of the land are paralyzed by terror. According to their way I will do to them, and according to their judgments I will judge them, and they shall know that I am the Lord.

4)    Why this rejection of Eli?   -Eli is no Abraham

i)       Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

b)    Eli rebukes his grown sons but does act. V2:22

(1) It’s important to note that verbal railing or apathy will both cast our children’s heart away from us through mistrust; both rest on a selfish idolatry. God demands clear action with a view on restoration. Mistrust destroys relationship.

->How does God parent - God’s voice is gentle, sounds like the Bible, is peaceful, steadfast, reliable, single minded, personal, glorifying to Jesus which leads me to be more like Him, and convicting rather than condemning.

(2) Proverbs 29:17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart. à Delight to your heart is not a sobbing child locked away; it is a restored relationship.

(3) All too often discipline becomes about us, “I’m tired, mad and out of patience”

(i)    If you say that inside then run to the cross with that idol, it is sin.

(b) Discipline is about

(i)    Unity & relationship (proverbs 29:17)

(ii)   love(proverbs 13:24) Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

(iii)The cross (Ephesians 2:8). For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast.

c)     Eli’s sons are out of control

(1) Stealing from God – cut off/death- Leviticus 7:25  - They took meat (Eli ate it also)  vv2:29

(2) Adultery – death penalty - Deuteronomy 22:22 –Samuel 2:22

(3) Rebellious son – Death penalty –Deuteronomy 21:18 – Samuel 2:25

ii)     We believe culturally that when our children are grown and gone that we can wash our hands of them and let sleeping dogs lie. That’s not wisdom from God.

(a)  Deuteronomy 21:18 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives,

d)    Abraham commands his children after him  (Faithfulness of Elkanah & Hannah)

i)       Genesis 18:19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

(1) Command= (6680) Tsavah =Imperfect3masculine singular àImperfect =It’s a work in progress(We are Commanding, not once, ongoing state of motion)  à Masculine= It’s a man. à Singular= There is only one leader.

(a)  Used 3 times and each time it is general, not specific

(i)    Genesis 2:16 The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;

(ii)  Deuteronomy 28:8 "The LORD will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you.

(2) How is he commanding? In reference to God. Keep= (8104) Shamar = it’s about observing and remembering who God is. Loving the creator.

(a)  This is 400 years before the law is written by Moses!

(i)    Its relational and a life shared with your children, Good and bad.

1.     Hey kids remember where uncle Lott lives in that big city? Well they don’t follow the ways of God and are consumed with pleasing themselves and taking advantage of one another for unjust gain. God burned them with fire ---every man, woman, child, dog, cat, mouse, donkey, ox, and bird. We can’t even find were the city was; there is just a great big area of desolation. Uncle Lott made it out with your cousins but he lost auntie on the way.

(ii)  This “Keep” is not in observance of the minimum standard. That is our modern day mechanistic life. What’s a cog? Well it has these specifications and we can measure the tolerances to see if it passes.

1.     No! A thousand times no! We have killed education with this thinking.  Life is not about these minimum standards it’s about running as hard as you can fighting as hard as you can; working as hard as you can; loving God as hard as you can ------->is HE not worthy!!!

Visiting a house – just inside the door

                                    Or

            Meal -worship -fellowship – relationship.

>Go all in –We don’t just stand at the door happy to be in, no we run to the arms of the Father.

Matthew 18:3 and He said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”

A stubborn one will stand and stare at the line in self-righteous approval.

            The little child will run to the father with reckless abandon!

5)    God rejects two and selects one >Samuel 2:12-36

a)     Pride = Inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others. Webster

Key-Bondage

b)    Humility = In ethics, freedom from pride and arrogance; humbleness of mind; a modest estimate of one's own worth. In theology, humility consists in lowliness of mind; a deep sense of one's own unworthiness in the sight of God, self-abasement, penitence for sin, and submission to the divine will. Key-Repentant           

i)       Sons of Eli  -- Worthless men (sons of Belial=wicked men) Samuel 2:12 

(1) Self-righteous pride and arrogance (no fear)

(a)  Sons of the high priest

(b) Born of the tribe of Levi

(c)  They are in power and have authority

(d) They use it for personal gain

ii)     Samuel --  grew in stature and in favor  --Samuel 2:26

(1) Humble – servant –keyword is

(a)  Faithful = Firm in adherence to the truth and to the duties of religion.

(i)    Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Rev. 2.

(2) Set apart from birth as a servant of God

(3) His Mother is a woman of faith,  raised him as a small child

(a)  her prayer is even mimicked by Mary with Jesus

(4) 2:21 and the young man grew in the presence of God

(5) 2:26 and the young boy grew both in stature and in favor with the Lord and with man.

(6) 3:19 and Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him

The opposite of hardening your heart is seen here; humbling his heart, not growing bitter because of the opportunities of others or the work he must do. Comparison game of defeat

6)    Called of God/character displayed

a)     Samuel first call –Second call and third call “ here I am for thou did call me”  Samuel 3

i)       patient

ii)     Faithfully serving Eli – apprenticeship

iii)   Lived with Eli-In the evening

b)    No emotional manipulation- straight forward.

i)       Following God is the only sane thing to do.

c)     Eli gives good counsel –

i)       Remember that “the word was rare” Samuel 3:1

ii)     Samuel did not yet know the Lord –Samuel 3:7

7)    And the Lord came and stood. Samuel 3:10

a)     After Samuel had been faithful 3 times going and coming again- God came to him. Called Samuel by name  and he obeys “Speak Lord for your servant hears”

8)    God gave a hard prophesy against the very people who had cared for Samuel.

a)     Compassion in the face of judgment.

i)       Samuel does not say – “you get what you deserve”

(1) Samuel 3:15 –

(a)  He lay until morning (sleepless)

(b) And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli

b)    Samuel is faithful and tells Eli the truth—(passed the trial)

i)       Eli is unrepentant (heart is hard)

9)    Just faithful no matter the cost

a)     Not one word shall fall to the ground. Samuel 3:19

i)       The epitome of faithfulness

(1) People don’t want to hear it

(2) God upheld the words of Samuel that he received from God

10)           Samuel 3:21

What’s the heart of it? Will you parents, will you children;

 Harden your heart or humble yourself? We have no righteousness of our own.

Ezekiel 13:19 And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of  bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?


Col 3:1-11Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 

NO

Will you be found faithful?

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments”

1 Corinthians 4:2 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

2Timothy 2:11  This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless He remains faithful- For He cannot deny Himself.

“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation2:10)